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Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Kota Kinabalu: (DE)Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Youth Tuesday called on youths in Sabah to support its petition to get the Government to take immediate action to re-construct the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) tower block.

Its Secretary, Pang Thien Fook, said this was crucial as the issue affected everyone especially when those in need of medical treatment.

"It (the QEH issue) affects everyone, including you and me and our family members, except that we do not know when.

"While we pray that everyone is healthy and free from untoward incidents, there is still no guarantee," he said, in a statement here.

The QEH tower block was declared unsafe last November.

"Ever since then, patients in Sabah had been and are still being sent to the various district hospitals besides Sabah Medical Centre (SMC) for treatment. This had inevitably caused great inconvenience and stress to patients, their families as well as doctors and the medical staff," Pang said.

The low morale of the medical team also dealt a severe blow to the standard and quality of medical service rendered to patients in Sabah, he added.

Although the Government had formalised the purchase of SMC last month, it unfortunately is still inadequate and ineffective in resolving the pressing issue, he noted.

"This is especially true due to the fact that it will take quite some time before SMC is fully handed over to the Ministry of Health," he said, adding the expansion works would also prolong the process.

"Hence, SAPP on Aug 29 launched a signature campaign demanding the Government to take immediate and concrete action to resolve the chaotic and distressing medical service affecting the people of Sabah," Pang said.

"By supporting this petition, the youths are not only doing a noble deed to the community which they live in but more significantly demonstrating their filial-piety for their parents and love for their loved ones."

As part of their efforts in supporting the petition, SAPP Youth is currently going around the State capital distributing bookmarks to youths to better attract attention and support for the issue, he added.

"This Nov 5 will mark the 365th day the city is without a general hospital (and) this is not only disappointing and unacceptable but also an insult to the '1Malaysia. People First, Performance Now' motto," Pang pointed out.

He said the SAPP planned to submit the petition to the Prime Minister who is expected to visit Sabah on Nov 8.

Those who wish to support the petition could log on to SAPP's website or go to any of its offices.

Meanwhile,Melanie, Luyang Assembly women, noted that 5 November will also mark the 365th days Kota Kinabalu city is without a general hospital and the one and only referral hospital for the State.

She noted that SAPP had on 29 August 2009 launched a signature campaign demanding for the Government to take immediate and concrete action to resolve the chaotic and distressing medical service affecting the people of Sabah, after the QEH tower block was declared unsafe by the relevant authority in last November.

LINUNDUS says …

The QEH tower block was declared unsafe since last November. It is already coming to a year now and yet there is still no sign of construction of a new Hospital Building. This has caused a lot of inconvenience and stress to patients, their families as well as doctors and the medical staff.

"Ever since then, patients in Sabah had been and are still being sent to the various district hospitals besides Sabah Medical Centre (SMC) for treatment. This had inevitably caused great inconvenience and stress to patients, their families as well as doctors and the medical staff," Pang Thien Fook said.

SAPP Youths should not only urge the youths to support petition over QEH tower block but also encourage the general public to do likewise. All of us are affected and we, including our political leaders, should support the petition to get the Federal Government to take immediate action to re-construct the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) tower block without further delay, otherwise the 1Malaysia Concept looses its luster.